Sliding door guide



June 7, 1960 D. F. PRESTON 2,939,167

sLIDING DooR GUIDE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 .Fl'raz .L

United States iatcnt SLIDING DOOR GUIDE Don F. Preston, Garden Grove, Calif., assigner to Acme Appliance Manufacturing Company, Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 25, 1955, Ser. No. 548,839

13 Claims. (Cl. 16-90) The present invention relates in general to a guide for the lower ends of a pair of sliding doors in an installation of the type wherein the doors are mounted on tracks at their upper ends.

Primary objects of the invention are to provide a sliding door guide which is capable of a substantially infinite number of width adjustments over a wide range to accommodate any door thicknesses in common use, to provide a sliding door guide which is capable of producing a substantially infinite number of door spacings over a wide range to accommodate even badly warped doors, to provide a sliding door guide which does not require grooves in the lower ends or edges of the doors, although it may be used with doors -having such grooves therein if desired, and to provide a sliding door guide which is substantially completely concealed by the doors after installation thereof.

Considering the invention more specically, an important object thereof is to provide a sliding door guide which includes a base having two perpendicular transverse tracks of dilerent lengths and which includes two outer guide elements movable inwardly and outwardly along one or the other of the tracks throughout wide ranges of positions to provide numerous possible spacings between such outer guide elements throughout a very wide range. With this construction, the two outer guide elements may be utilized in conjunction with the shorter of the two tracks for relatively thin doors, and may be utilized in connection with the longer of the two tracks for relatively thick doors, thereby accommodating doors of a wide range of thicknesses, which is an important feature of the invtntion.

Another object is to provide a sliding door guide wherein each track is an inverted channel having downwardly extending projections at its end, the outer guide elements having outer guide portions provided with inwardly extending portions which lit into the inverted channel and which are provided with serrated surfaces engageable by the projections at the ends of the channel to provide a wide range of spacings between the outer guide portions. With this construction, numerous spacings for the outer guide portions are possible in connection with each of the inverted-channel tracks, and the inwardly extending portions of the outer guide elements are secured in the desired positions merely by clamping them between the upper Wall of the invertedchannel track in which they are disposed and a oor on which the sliding door guide is mounted.

Another object is to provide outer guide elements having outer guide portions which are formed with convex inner and outersurfaces. With this construction, the inner surfaces of the outer guide portions may engage the outer surfaces of the sliding doors to eliminate any necessity for grooves in the lower edges of the doors, or the outer guide portions may be inserted in grooves in the lower edges of the doors if desired.

Another object is to provide a sliding door guide having a center guide element carried by the base at the n- 2,939,157 Patented June 7, 1960 icc tersection of the inverted-channel tracks in the base and to provide such a center guide element having a variable eective width in infinitesimal increments throughout a wide range to provide numerous possible spacings between the doors throughout a vwide range, whereby to accommodate even severe warping of one or both doors.

Another object is to provide a center guide element in the form of an eccentric the angular position of which relative to the base may be adjusted in -innitesimal increments throughout a wide range.

Another object is to provide an eccentric center guide element which is elliptical and which is provided with a cylindrical portion insertable into a circular aperture in the base, means being provided for locking the cylindrical portion of the center guide element in a desired angular position in Ithe aperture provided therefor. Another object in this connection is to provide projections, such as teeth or barbs, on the periphery of the aperture in the base for gripping engagement with the cylindrical portion of the center guide element to lock it in any desired angular position.

Another important object -is to provide the base with means inwardly of the outer ends of the tracks therein for securing the base to a oor on which the sliding door guide is mounted. Since the outer guide portions of the outer guide elements are located outwardly of the ends of the tracks upon installation, locating the mounting means for the base inwardly of the tracks results in complete concealment of the base and its mounting means by the sliding doors upon completion of the installation, which is an important feature of the invention.

Another object is to provide a mounting means for the base comprising tabs located inwardly of the outer ends of the tracks in the base, such tabs being securable to a floor by means of screws, cementing, or the like.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, yfeatures and results thereof which will be apparent to those skilled in this art in the light of this disclosure, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a sliding door guide of the invention as installed to accommodate two relatively thick sliding doors with a relatively wide spacing therebetween;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the arrowed line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an outer guide element of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an isometric View of a centerguide element of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the sliding door guide of the invention as installed to accommodate two relatively thin doors with a relatively narrow spacing therebetween; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the sliding door guide of the invention in use with sliding doors having grooves in the lower edges thereof.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a base adapted to be mounted on a oor 12, or the like, and provided with two perpendicular transverse tracks, these tracks being in the form of inverted channels and the track 14 being longer than the track 16. The base 10 is provided with mounting tabs 18 .which are located inwardly of the outer ends of the tracks 14 and 2116 Within the corners of the cruciform pattern formed by the tracks. The base 10 may be secured to the oor 12 by screws 20 extending through at least two of the tabs 18. Alternatively, the base may be secured to the iloor 12 by cementing all of the tabs 18- lthereto, as in the case of a concrete door, for example, the tabs 18 having relatively large areas lfor this purpose. As will become apparent, by locating the tabs 18y inwardly of the outer ends of the tracks 14 and 16, the base `10 and .the screws 20, or otherl securing means, are completely concealed bythe sliding doors of theinstallation; Y

The sliding door guide of the invention includes two outer guide elements 24 each having' an outer guide portion 26 and an inwardly extending portion 28 fitting into and movable inwardly and outwardlyv along 'one of the' tracks 14 and 16. rI'he-outer guide portions 26 are provided with convexl inner and outer surfaces 30 and 32 which converge upwardly.' With this construction, the outer guide portions 26 may be utilizedwithvthe inner surfaces thereof inengag'ement with the outer surfaces of sliding'doors 34, Figs'. l and 2, or the outer surfaces of sliding doors 56, Fig. 6, orgthe-outer guide portions 26 may be inserted into grooves 38 in the lower edges of sliding doors 40, Fig.7

The inwardly extending portions 28 of the outer guide elements 24 are provided along their sides with ribs 42 which are adapted to Vit4 relatively snugly into either the track 14, .or'the track 16, the widths of the inwardly extending portions 28 being'substantially equal to the widths of the inverted-channel tracks 14 and 16. Thus, the inwardly extending portions 28 of the outer guide elements 24 are rmly clamped between the upper wall of the'track 14, or the track 176, and the oor 12 when the base 10 is secured tothe Hoor.

The inwardly extending portions 28 of the outer guide elements 24 are provided with serrated surfaces 44 the ser-rations of which are engageable by downwardly extending projectionsor lips 46 at the outer ends of the tracks 14' and 16. With this construction, the inwardly extendingportions 28 ofthe outer guide elements 24 may be clamped between the upper wall of one of the tracks 14 and 16 and thegoor 12 with any one of numerous possible spacings between the outer guide portions 26 of the outer guide elements, such spacing depending upon the door thicknesses and the spacing required between doors. Also,the base may be oriented with either the track 14 or the; track 16- extending -transversely o-f the doors, depending upon the door thicknesses and the spacing required between the doors. For example, referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, the longer track 1,4 Vis usedto accommodate the relatively thick doors 34 with a relatively wide spacing therebetween. As will be apparent, veven thicker doors may be utilized with the longer track 14 extending transversely thereof by clamping the outer guide elements r24 in place in positions outwardly from Vthose shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawing. For thinner doors, the base iti may be oriented with the shorter track 16 extending transversely of the doors, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. As will be apparent, with the base orientation shown in Fig. 6, the sliding door guide of the invention may be utilized with even thinner doors by clamping the outer guide elements 24 in place in .positions inwardly of the positions shown in Fig. 6, the engagement between the lips 46 at the ends of the tracks with the serrated surfaces 44 of the outer guide elements preventing any shifting of the outer guide elements once they have been clamped in place. As another example, the sliding door guidey may be utilized in connection with the grooved doors 49 of Fig. 7 with either the longer track 14 or the shorter track 16 in use and with the outer guide elements in any desired positions and door spacings are accommodated by the sliding door guide ofthe invention, which is an important feature thereof.

`Considering the matter of the spacing between the doors, the base 10 is provided with a circular aperture 48 therethrough at the center of the intersection of the tracks 14 and 16, the periphery of this aperture being deformed to provide barbs or teeth 50, adjacent ones of which preferably face in opposite directions. Projecting upwardly through the aperture 48 is a center guide element-52 having at` its lower end an annular flange 54 which serves to limit upward insertion of the guide element intorthe aperture and which is designed to be clamped between the base 10 and the rfloor 12.

The center guide element -52 includes a cylindrical portion 56 which is disposi-:drin the aperture 48 when the guide element 52 is completely inserted thereinto. The center guide element 52-is preferably-formed of a plastic materal, such as nylon (as are the outer guide elements 24), whereby the barbs or teeth 50 may bite into the cylindrical portion ,56 of the center guide element to securely lock it in any desired angular position relative to the base 10-once it has been clamped between the base and the oor. The center guide element is provided with a variable-width portion 58 which is preferably elliptical, whereby positioning the center guide element in various angular positions relative to the base results in the provision of an infinite number of eiective widths for the center guide element throughout a wide range to provide an innite number of door spacings throughout such range. For example, .to provide a wide door spacing, the center guideelement 52 may be so positioned that the major axisr of the elliptical portion 58 extends along a line between the outer guide elements 24. To provide a minimum door spacing, the elliptical portion 58 may be so positioned that its minor axis extends along a line between the outer guide elements 24. Alternatively, to provide intermediate door spacings, the center guide element 52 may be positioned in an intermediate angular position relative to the line of door movement. Thus, numerous door spacings are possible and the sliding door guide of the invention may be utilized to provide a relatively wide door spacing to accommodate doors which are .warped in such a manner that they bow inwardly toward each other intermediate their upper and lower ends, theY relatively wide spacing at the lower ends .thereof preventing contactbetween the doors despite the warping.

Considering the manner in which a typical installation of the sliding door guide of the' invention may be made', utilizingV the screws 20 to secure the base 10 to the oor 12, inspection of the -thicknesses'of the doors with whichrthe 'guide is to be used will show whether the base should be oriented with the longer track 14 extending transversely ofthe doors, or with the shorter track 16 extending transversely thereof. Assuming that the.doorf thicknesses are approximately equal to those shown for the doors 36 of Fig. 6, the base 10 is oriented with the shorter track 16 extending transversely of the doors.. WithV the center guide element 52 inserted into the aperture 48, and with the inwardly extending portions 28 of the outer guide elements 24 inserted into the ends the track16, the base 16 is placed on the iloor 12 in the proper'position relative to the doors 36 and the screws 20 are-.tightened partially, but not sufficiently to prevent rotationof the center guide element 52 and inward and outward movement of the outer guide elements 24. The foregoing-accomplished, the center 'guide element 52 is then rotatedruntil the proper clearance between the doors .36 has been established to permit free relative movement .thereof without contact. Thereafter, the outer guide elements 24Yare so positioned as to place the inner surfaces 30 of the outer guidejportions 26 in light contact with the outer surfaces of the doors 36 when the inner surfaces thereofY lightly engage the elliptical portion 58 of the center guide element 52. Ihis accomplished, the screws 20 are fully tightened, whereby the teeth 50 around the aperture 48 bite into the cylindrical portionl 56 of the center guide element 52 to lock this guide element in the desired position, and whereby the lips 46 at the ends of the track 16 lock the outer guide elements 24 against inward or outward movement, the base 10 thus clamping the guide elements 24 and 52 in the desired positions. As will be apparent, the entire base and its securing means are hidden by the doors 36, only the outer guide portions 26 of the outer guide elements 24 being visible. Similar installation procedures are applicable when the base 10 is oriented with the longer track 14 extending transversely of the doors, as shown in Figs. l and 2, or when the outer guide portions 26 of the outer guide elements 24 are positioned in grooves in the lower edges of the doors, as shown in IFig. 7, the center guide element 52 being inoperative in the latter instance.

Thus, the present invention provides an iniinite width adjustment throughout a very wide range, an infinite door spacing adjustment throughout a wide range, eliminates the necessity for grooves in the doors, although it may be used with grooved doors if desired, and results in complete concealment of the base of the guide and its securing means.

Although I have disclosed an exemplary embodiment of the present invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appearing hereinafter.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sliding door guide, the combination of: a base providing a track having a centerline; two outer guide elements movable inwardly and outwardly along said track to vary the spacing between said outer guide elements; interengageable means on said base and said outer guide elements for locking said outer guide elements against movement relative to said base along said track in any of numerous positions to provide numerous spacings between said outer guide elements; an additional, center guide element carried by said base intermediate the ends of said track, said outer guide elements being movable inwardly and outwardly along said track relative to said center guide element; and means for varying the effective width of said center guide element along said centerline of said track, including means for varying the position of said center guide element relative to said track.

2. In a sliding door guide, the combination of: a base providing a transverse track; two outer guide elements movable inwardly and outwardly along said track to vary the spacing between said outer guide elements; interengageable means on said track and said outer guide elements for locking said outer guide elements against movement relative to said base along said track in any of numerous positions to provide numerous spacings between said outer guide elements; and an additional, center guide element of variable effective width carried by said base intermediate the ends of said track, said outer guide elements being movable inwardly and outwardly along said track relative to said center guide element, and said center guide element being noncircular and being rotatable relative to said base so as to vary the etective width of said center guide element.

3. In a sliding door guide, the combination of: a base providing two perpendicular tracks of diierent lengths intersecting at their mid-points; two guide elements movable inwardly and outwardly along one of said tracks to vary the spacing between said guide elements throughout one range, and movable inwardly and outwardly along the other of said tracks to vary the spacing -between said guide elements throughout another range; and means for locking said guide elements against movement relative to said base along said tracks 'in any of numerous positions to provide numerous possible spacings between said guide elements.

4. A sliding door guide as defined in claim 3 wherein said locking means include serrated surfaces on said guide elements and projections at Ithe ends of said tracks engageable with said serrated surfaces.

5. In a sliding door guide,`the combination of: a base providing a track having a centerline; two guide elements l having outer guide portions located outwardly of the ends of said track and fhaving inwardly extending portions engaging and movable inwardly and outwardly along said track to vary the spacing between said guide portions; interengageable means on said inwardly extending portions and said base for locking said guide elements against movement relative to said base along said track in any of numerous positions to provide numerous possible spacings between said guide portions; an additional, center guide element carried by said base intermediate the ends of said track to provide a spacing between two sliding doors engaging said guide portions of the first guide elements dened, said first-defined guide elements being movable inwardly and outwardly along said track relative to said center guide element; and means for varying the effective width of said center guide element along said centerline of said track to vary said spacing between said sliding doors, including means for varying the position of said center guide element relative to said track.

6. A sliding door guide as dened in claim 5 wherein said center guide element is noncircular, said center guide element being rotatably mounted on said -base and said width varying means including means for locking said center guide element in any of numerous angular positions relative to said base.

7. A sliding door guide as defined in claim 6 wherein said center guide element is elliptical.

8. A sliding door guide including a base having a noncircular center guide element thereon adapted to t between two sliding doors and rotatable relative to said base to vary the spacing between the sliding doors.

9. A sliding door guide as defined in claim 8 wherein said center guide element is elliptical.

l0. In a sliding door guide, the combination of: a base provided with a circular aperture therethrough; outer guide elements adjacent opposite sides of said base; a noncircular center guide element having a cylindrical portion inserted into said aperture, said cylindrical portion being insertable into said aperture in different angular positions so as to vary the effective width of said center guide element along a line connecting said outer guide elements; and means for locking said center guide elev ment relative to said base.

ll. A sliding door guide as defined in claim 10 wherein said locking means includes projections on said base around the periphery of said aperture which are engageable with said cylindrical poltion of said center guide element.

12. In a sliding door guide, the combination of: a base having two perpendicular, intersecting inverted channels of diierent lengths therein, said base providing projections at the ends of the upper walls of said channels, said base providing tabs inwardly of the ends of and adjacent said channels for mounting the sliding door guide on a floor, and said base being provided with a central aperture at the intersection of said channels the periphery of which is provided with teeth; two outer guide elements having outer guide portions located outwardly of the ends of one of said channels and having inwardly extending portions tting into and movable inwardly and outwardly along one of said channels to vary the spacing between said guide portions, said inwardly extending portions having serrated surfaces engageable with said projections at the ends of said upper walls of said channels to lock said outer guide elements relative to said base in any of numerous positions to provide numerous possible 7 spacings between. said guide portions; and an elliptical center guide element havingk a cylindrical portion im Y serted into said apenture and engaged by said teeth to'eIock said center guide element relative'to said base inianyrone of 'numerousY angular positions soY asfto vary the effective width of saidcenter guide element along alinefconnecting said outer guide elements. t i v 13. In' a sliding doorv guide securable to a floor, the combination of: a base vseatableon the oor'and pl'm'fided thereon with a fixed, downwardly facing' track; two guide elements movable'- inwardlyV and outwardly along said track to vary thespacing therebetween and seatable on the oor; interen'gageable means 'on' said track ands'aid guide elements forv locking said guidekelements against movement re1ative t'o said` base'along said track in any of numerous positons'to provide numerous spacings between said guide elements, said interengageable means including serrated surfaces on said guide elements and projections on said base at the ends of said track engageable with said serrated surfaces; and means engageable with said base at points spaced from said guide elements for securing said base to the oor and for maintaining said interengageabie means on said track and said guide elements in interengagement. Y Y

References Cited in the le of thisrp'atent UNITEDV STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Center Floor Guide No. 2680-9, American Builder, September 1951, page 83. 

